Most Popular Bookies in Romania

Sports betting

Romanians love sports betting, particularly football games. In fact, other sports competitions are tremendously popular as well, including basketball, tennis, and handball. The country legalized placing wagers on sports matches in the 1990s. By 2003, Romania’s government announced licensing opportunities for bookies from foreign countries.

For example, Stanleybet, a UK company, operates bookmaking operations throughout Romania. Romania allows citizens to wager online with foreign bookmakers, even those not licensed in the country. As a result, many reputable businesses obtain revenue from the country’s citizens.

Bingo

Bingo operators must register with Romanian police, according to a 2008 law. By 2009, 16 bingo halls obtained licensing. The country taxes these for-profit businesses at 16 percent plus €5,000 in yearly fees. Online Bingo is not taxed or regulated like land-based establishments. Romanians often frequent foreign-licensed, reputable bingo websites, such as Unibet and Bet365. However, as the country’s online gambling presence continues to grow, domestic Bingo will likely expand its reach online.

Poker

Gamblers in Romania are passionate about Poker, one of the most popular games in the industry. Poker rooms are continuing to pop us across the country, sparked by popular domestic players who’ve found success playing the game.

Aspiring players view Poker professionals as role models, and Romania hosts an annual Poker Open, which draws pro players to compete. Romania’s land-based casinos offer Poker to enthusiasts who enjoy betting on the game. Romanian poker players enjoy free games through online poker networks and online websites, which are accessible via the web throughout the country. Popular platforms accept the Romanian lei currency.

Since the Roman soldiers played, dice games have been popular in Romania. The area’s Balkan region is steeped in gambling traditions from Ottoman and European areas. Romanian regions came under Ottoman rule in the 15th century. For four hundred years, Ottomans influenced the regions culture, introducing coffee houses, saloons, and other customs, such as card games.
Romania Independence.

In 1859, Romania gained independence. At the time, no gambling regulations existed, and citizens freely played cards and bet on sports. By 1906, Romania developed the nation’s lottery, which is the first licensed and regulated gambling in the country. Like other countries, Romania earmarked lottery proceeds to fund important public programs, such as healthcare and education.

When the Communist Party ruled Romania between 1947 and 1989, it banned gambling in all forms. However, interest in gambling remained and the prohibition only fueled illegal, underground gambling. Gambling operators escaped detection by maintaining small operations and bribing officials to look the other way.
Regulations

In 1989, a new state replaced the Communist Party. By 1990, Romania licensed its first casino, but the government still lacked laws and regulations to govern the industry. A wide variety of betting establishments popped up across the country. Most operated unlicensed. Operators of card rooms, slot parlors, and betting establishments turned Romania into a gambling haven, which many called the “Wild East.” The country reinstated the state lottery by 1999. New laws set aside 60 percent of the net profit for housing, arts, sports, and other projects. In 2009, the revenue for public projects was more than $170 million.

By 2012, the government passed and enforced numerous laws to regulate the industry and collect taxes. Still, that same year industry leaders estimated that the finance ministry only collected 2 percent of the total tax bill due from gambling establishments.

With no framework to ensure gambling operations reported tax winnings, the system lacked the ability to properly manage tax enforcement. By 2013, Romania’s government implemented a higher charge for the fee to enter a gambling establishment. Further, a casino paid nearly $200 for each slot machine it operated. These new fees helped to offset tax money the government missed out on from unscrupulous operators who failed to report all gambling revenue.

Future gambling in Romania looks bright, as the citizens frequent both online and offline betting options. Government regulations allow qualified operators to obtain licensing. By working collaboratively with government officials, Romania’s regulatory agency ensures operators comply with existing laws and pay associated fees. Since gambling benefits the economy, it’s likely legislators shall continue to support legal gambling operations on land and via the internet.

Betting Acts of Romania

Gambling establishments are required to comply with several rules to receive and keep a license. Such requirements include minimum share capital, security deposit for taxes, payment of license tax, and other costs.

Owners must not have of criminal record and a good reputation is mandatory. While no law prohibits the use of celebrities for marketing casinos and other gambling enterprises, guidance from the regulatory body asks operators to refrain from doing so. In addition, licensed venues are subject to the following fees:

• Authorization tax. Romania requires a 16 percent GGR tax of at least 100,000 EUR a year.
• License tax. An annual license tax may cost between 6,000-120,000 EUR annually.
• License fees. When submitting an application, operators are charge three fees, including the fee for the application itself, a fee paid for the file analysis, and a fee for the license issuance.
• Participation fee. Operators pay a monthly tax for online gambling, which equals 2 percent of total fees each month.

Gambling Bill of 2010

It wasn’t until 2010 that the government passed laws to monitor and control online gambling operators. Betting odds, casino gambling, and bingo were some of the issues the new legislation addressed. It also spelled out tax revenue requirements, which served to increase the yearly budget for the state, protect gambling addicts, and bring foreign investors into the country’s gambling market.

In order to eliminate illegal operators, the bill also provided options for contracting a third-party business to issue licenses and review online gambling businesses. No suitable firm was found to handle the country’s vast number of online operators. By the end of 2010, the country still had not found a way to regulate or obtain tax proceeds from online gambling.
Government Licensing

By 2013, the government used an emergency ordinance to launch a licensing agency. This national office regulated the industry, taxed operators, and issued licenses. Industry experts estimated at the time that the annual revenue would bring nearly $30 million every year to support the government’s budget objectives. Now called the National Gambling Office, the agency works to protect gamblers by maintaining strict controls over industry operators in the region.